Category: Politics

News stories of Politics, for the topics that matter the most to young professionals and college students, political news reported with a different angle.

  • ‘Taliban has huge presence on Twitter, yet I am silenced’: Trump launching social media platform TRUTH

    ‘Taliban has huge presence on Twitter, yet I am silenced’: Trump launching social media platform TRUTH

    Former United States (US) President Donald Trump announced he would launch his own social media platform, TRUTH Social, saying, “We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American president has been silenced. This is unacceptable,” reports Reuters.

    According to the press release distributed by the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) and a special acquisition company (SPAC), which form a new company for TRUTH social, Trump’s own social media app, TRUTH Social would “stand up to Big Tech” companies such as Twitter and Facebook that have barred him from their platforms.

    “I am excited to send out my first TRUTH on TRUTH Social very soon. TMTG was founded with a mission to give a voice to all. I’m excited to soon begin sharing my thoughts on TRUTH Social and to fight back against Big Tech,” he said.

    Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms banned Trump from their platforms after hundreds of his supporters rioted at the US Capitol on January 6.

  • Lahore police on high alert as TLP demand the release of Saad Rizvi

    Lahore police on high alert as TLP demand the release of Saad Rizvi

    Lahore police were put on high alert on Wednesday after the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) resumed protest activities by staging a massive sit-in on Multan Road near its headquarters at Masjid Rehmatul-lil-Aalemeen, for the release of TLP chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi, son of late Khadim Rizvi.

    Rizvi is detained by the Punjab government since April 12 for “maintenance of public order (MPO)”. He was initially detained for three months and then again under the Anti-Terrorist Act on July 10. A federal review board is scheduled to take up the government’s reference against him on October 23, reports Dawn.

    A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) is yet to be constituted to hear an appeal of the government against a decision of a single bench that had set aside the detention of the TLP leader.

    Earlier, the TLP took out a massive rally on 12th of Rabiul Awal (Tuesday), where its senior leaders delivered fiery speeches, accusing the government of using delay tactics in releasing Saad Rizvi.

  • Video: Pak diplomats forget to turn off mic, laughing about Twitter spat between Shireen Mazari, daughter

    Video: Pak diplomats forget to turn off mic, laughing about Twitter spat between Shireen Mazari, daughter

    An Indian journalist has shared a now viral video on social media in which two Pakistani diplomats can be heard discussing the recent Twitter spar between Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari and her daughter Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir.

    One of the diplomats can be heard saying, “shuru se inka style yehi hai, aggressive,” while referring to the minister. The diplomats can be also heard laughing on the issue.

    Read more-‘I am ashamed’: Shireen Mazari responds to daughter’s tweet on PTI govt

    The video is from the third meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan. It was being held with the participation of special representatives or senior officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as a high-level delegation of the interim Afghan government.

  • ‘Increasing value of dollar benefits overseas Pakistanis,’ Governor State Bank of Pakistan

    ‘Increasing value of dollar benefits overseas Pakistanis,’ Governor State Bank of Pakistan

    Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Reza Baqir, while talking to the media in the United Kingdom (UK) said that the increasing value of the dollar benefits overseas Pakistanis and we should not forget those who benefit from this increase.

    “Rising dollar benefits some people and harms others. Overseas Pakistanis benefit because the money they send to their loved ones has more value. We should not forget those who benefit,” he said.

    Twitter users were quick to react to his statement.

  • PDM to launch nationwide anti-government protests today

    PDM to launch nationwide anti-government protests today

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will launch its countrywide anti-government protests from today (Wednesday).

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level party meeting on Tuesday to finalise the schedule for protests and rallies against the PTI-led government. 

    The first jalsa will be held in Rawalpindi today, and Shehbaz Sharif is urging workers and leaders of the party at the district and provincial level tp take part in the protests. 

    PDM leaders in Islamabad will be meeting at 2pm, to decide the dates and venues for the Islamabad protests. 

    READ MORE: 57% Pakistanis losing confidence in PM Khan overcoming economic crisis: Survey

    PDM, which had lost steam in previous months, is now once again, at the receiving end of the opposition’s criticism. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the Prime Minister is lucky he has such a “worthless” Opposition to deal with and that the government does not feel threatened by the Opposition at all because “it is spineless”.

    The call for protests come at a time when inflation is at its height and buying essentials in the country has become difficult.

    RELATED: Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Rasheed had also reacted to the Opposition’s criticism of the PTI-led government due to the rising inflation in the country and said that the situation arose due to the policies of the previous governments as well as the coronavirus situation in the country.

  • Biden nominates a new US Ambassador to Pakistan

    Biden nominates a new US Ambassador to Pakistan

    US President Joe Biden is nominating a career diplomat Donald Blome as his envoy to Pakistan, soon after U.S. troops left Afghanistan, giving up control to the Taliban and plunging the country into crisis.

    Blome is currently serving as the US ambassador in Tunisia. He previously worked in the Kabul embassy and is a career Foreign Service diplomat.

    The United States has frozen access to aid or foreign reserves in Afghanistan and the country is on the verge of humanitarian collapse.

    The nomination comes at a time when the U.S. is also interested in Pakistan’s relationship with China.

    Tunisia, where Blome has worked as ambassador since 2019, is an important diplomatic outpost for the United States in North Africa, representing interests beyond the country’s borders, including in neighbouring Libya.

    The ambassadorial position requires Senate confirmation.

  • ‘When pornography becomes common in a society, family system breaks down’: PM Khan

    ‘When pornography becomes common in a society, family system breaks down’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, while speaking at the Rehmatul-lil-Alameen conference held in celebrations of 12th Rabiul Awal, said, “When pornography becomes common in a society, the family system breaks down.”

    Citing the example of the West, PM Khan talked about growing sexual crimes in the country and said that it has become a “big threat”.

    “The family system is slowly breaking down due to sexual crimes in Britain,” he said.

    The premier expressed his concern about the youth of the country and how bringing them towards the path of righteousness is challenging.

    He said that parents are unable to take away mobile phones from children and cannot block their social media.

    “Although there is no compulsion in religion, we can show them the right way. We can, at least, train our children and talk to them about the bad effects of [Western] culture,” he said.

    PM Imran Khan promised the nation to establish an exemplary rule of law in the country and said that everyone, irrespective of their status in society, will be equal before the law. 

    “We will have to make the powerful abide by the laws of this country, otherwise, the system will never be corrected,” said PM.

    “We cannot win this war unless the rule of law prevails in the country,” he said.

    “You can’t destroy a nation’s principles through bombing,” the premier said, adding that a nation is not poor without resources but it becomes poor without law and justice.

  • Pakistan Navy thwarts Indian submarine’s attempt to enter Pak waters: ISPR

    Pakistan Navy thwarts Indian submarine’s attempt to enter Pak waters: ISPR

    Pakistan Navy has once again thwarted an attempt by an Indian submarine to enter into Pakistani waters.

    The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the incident took place on October 16, adding that the Indian naval submarine has been prematurely detected and tracked by the PN Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

    “During the prevailing security milieu, a strict monitoring watch has been kept by Pakistan Navy to safeguard maritime frontiers of Pakistan,” says the ISPR statement.

    The ISPR pointed out that this is the third incident of its kind wherein an Indian submarine has been “prematurely detected and tracked by PN Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft”.

    “The recent incident reflects the deplorable Indian machinations vis-à-vis the commitment and resolve of the Pakistan Navy to defend maritime frontiers of the motherland,” said the ISPR. 

  • ARY UK apologises to Ishaq Dar on air over fabricated allegations

    ARY UK apologises to Ishaq Dar on air over fabricated allegations

    A private channel New Vision TV, the broadcaster of ARY UK, has issued an apology on air to the former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who is currently residing in London.

    In an apology aired by ARY UK, the channel said, “We unconditionally apologise to Ishaq Dar for the significant distress, upset and embarrassment which these broadcasts have caused him.”

    “Dar never managed the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), never impeded its work, nor did he do anything to protect anybody in any case including the alleged Chaudhry Sugar Mills case”.

    According to Dawn, the defamatory remarks were made in two news shows which were aired in 2019. A transcript of the Special Minister Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar’s claims on the show that Dar did not allow the FMU to function.  It was also alleged that Dar had taken these steps to protect individuals involved in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case.

    Sources told Dawn that Dar issued proceedings against the channel in July 2020 and later served a claim in the UK High Court. In 2021, ARY UK made an offer for amends — a procedure in which a defendant in an action for defamation may make a written offer to publish an apology and pay damages. Acceptance of such an offer terminates defamation proceedings and parties settle the matter between themselves.

    Dar along with a restriction and an apology had claimed damages for libel of around 200,000 pounds.

    In a statement shared with Dawn, the former minister said, “I have never been involved in corruption or any unlawful activity and never used any influence against any institution. The allegations made by the pro-government media house and Shahzad Akbar were aimed at damaging my reputation but Allah SWT has been most kind and the TV channel has accepted in the UK judicial process that the allegations were fabricated, false and untrue. The TV channel has accepted that I was maligned and nothing wrong has been done by me.”

  • Indian retailer Fabindia withdraws Diwali ad after backlash from Hindu groups

    Indian retailer Fabindia withdraws Diwali ad after backlash from Hindu groups

    Indian retailer Fabindia, which sells home furnishings, furniture, clothes and food, has withdrawn an ad about a new Diwali line after backlash from right-wing Hindu groups, reported BBC.

    Social media users accused the ad of using Urdu — a language spoken by many Muslims in India — to celebrate a collection for the Hindu festival of Diwali.

    #BoycottFabIndia trended on Twitter in India on Monday after Fabindia called Diwali “Jashn-e-Riwaaz” (celebration of tradition) in a tweet. Following the tweet, many social media users called for a boycott of the company, claiming that the Urdu phrase had been used to hurt sentiments of the Hindu community.

    A spokesperson from Fabindia told the Times of India newspaper that Jashn-e-Riwaaz was not its Diwali collection.

    The tweet, which went viral on Monday, said: “As we welcome the festival of love and light, Jashn-e-Riwaaz by Fabindia is a collection that beautifully pays homage to Indian culture.” The tweet has since been deleted and the ad has also been withdrawn.

    Fabindia’s deleted tweet

    This is not the first time an Indian brand had to withdraw ads following backlash from right-wing Hindu groups. Last year in October, popular Indian jewellery brand Tanishq had to withdraw an advertisement featuring an interfaith couple after a right-wing backlash on social media.

    A recent advert by clothing brand Manyaavar featuring Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt in a wedding attire also caused a social media furore. The ad, which appeared to question an old tradition (Kanya Daan), received widespread backlash as it was seen as an attack on Hindu wedding rituals.